Call Our HelpLine ​

1-800-642-5119

Health Insurance & Medicare Counseling​​

Each of the five Area Agencies on Aging offices have certified State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) staff who provide counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and those about to become eligible for Medicare, including:

Information about eligibility and enrollment in all parts of Medicare: A, B, C and D

Open enrollment and assistance selecting a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

Medicare is health insurance for people who are 65 or older, under 65 and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for a certain amount of time, and those with two specific diseases: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that runs Medicare. Once you’ve become Medicare-eligible, you can enroll in Original Medicare, the traditional program offered directly through the federal government, or choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, a type of private insurance offered by companies that contract with Medicare.

What does Medicare cover?​

Original Medicare consists of:

Part A-Hospital insurance

Part B-Medical/physician insurance

Part D-Prescription drug coverage

Medicare Advantage is sometimes called Part C.

It is important to understand your Medicare coverage choices and to pick your coverage carefully. How you choose to get your benefits and who you get them from can affect your out-of-pocket costs and where you can get your care.

Things to remember about Medicare

There are strict rules about when you can enroll and when you can change your coverage

There are financial penalties if you do not enroll when you are first able to enroll unless you are allowed to have a Special Enrollment Period

If you already have insurance through a current or former employer, it can affect when you can or should enroll in Medicare

There are programs to help cover some of the costs that Medicare does not cover

Where can I get help with Medicare?

Call the HelpLine at 800-642-5119. You will be directed to the Area Agency on Aging in your area. Ask to speak to a SHIP counselor who can help you with your Medicare questions.